Roma police officer fired after fatal crash
Former Roma police officer dismissed after fatal Warrego Highway crash.
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A FORMER Roma police officer found to have caused a grandmother's death after performing a u-turn has lost the appeal against his conviction and been fired from the Queensland Police Service.
In a statement, QPS confirmed Constable Fabio Armando Mazza had been dismissed after the QPS conducted its own internal investigation into the incident.
In May, 2014, the then 29-year-old Constable Mazza was driving along the Warrego Hwy near Wallumbilla.
The investigation found Mazza was travelling at 98kmh when his speed detector locked on to a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction at 110kmh.
The constable slowed, veered to the left, then pulled right, to perform a u-turn on the highway to follow the car.
Steven Smith, 61, and his wife, Gail, 59, were riding a motorbike behind Mazza.
When he allegedly undertook the manoeuvre, the couple on the motorbike attempted to dodge the turning police car, and crashed.
Mrs Smith died and her husband was airlifted to Princess Alexandra Hospital with serious injuries.
Mazza was convicted in the Roma District Court on November 24, 2016, on one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm.
The court sentenced the officer to two years imprisonment, wholly suspended.
Mazza's defence appealed the verdict, arguing the jury should have included the possibility that an overreaction by Mr Smith caused the crash.
Mazza was suspended without pay from the QPS in December 2016.
The investigation into the incident has concluded, with the QPS announcing today that he had been dismissed.
"In keeping with our commitment to high standards of behaviour, transparency and accountability, we have undertaken to inform the public when an officer faces serious allegations of misconduct,” the QPS statement read.
Originally published as Roma police officer fired after fatal crash
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